Adjusting door strike plate how to#

RELATED: What Would Bob Do? Repairing a Door That SticksĪfter removing the strike plate from the door frame, use a metal file to enlarge the strike plate hole. If the misalignment is only ⅛ inch or less, then try to enlarge the hole.

Adjusting door strike plate how to#

If it’s out of alignment by more than ⅛ inch, then you may need to move the entire strike plate hole (see how to do this below). Check whether the latch is contacting the strike plate above or below the hole and how much the latch is misaligned. If the adjustments to the door didn’t solve the problem, the cause may be the strike plate hole.

Enlarge the strike plate hole with a metal file.Ī properly balanced door will close correctly, but the latch and strike plate hole may still be out of alignment. Replace the hinges and verify that they sit flush with the door frame and that the door is properly balanced. In this case, remove the hinges and sand down the hinge mortise to the correct depth, and sand the edges of the mortise to accommodate the hinge. However, the problem may be caused by hinge mortises that are too shallow or not large enough for the size of the hinge. The extra material adds an additional cushion to support the hinge and balance the door. Shimming typically corrects the alignment of the door if the problem is related to sunken hinges. When the cardboard is in, replace the hinge and check the door. Shimming the hinges involves removing the hinges from the door frame and cutting a small piece of cardboard (or similar material) to fit into the hinge mortise. If the problem persists after adjusting the screws in the hinges, then the door frame may need to be shimmed or sanded. Drive the screw into the bottom hole to help pull the door down, if the latch contacts above the strike plate hole. Drive the 3-inch screw into the top hinge to help lift the door into position, if the latch contacts below the strike plate hole. If tightening the screws doesn’t solve the problem, consider using a longer 3-inch screw on the door jamb side of the hinge to grab the wall framing and pull in the entire door frame slightly. Use a screwdriver to tighten the screws in the door hinges so that the door is properly supported by the door frame. This changes the swing of the door and can result in a misaligned door latch that contacts below the strike plate hole.

Older doors and doors that are frequently used may experience sagging at the hinges as gravity pulls the door down. However, if contact is made above the strike hole, then it’s more likely that the position of the strike plate is the issue. If the mark is below the strike plate hole, then the problem may be caused by sagging hinges. The lipstick should have left a mark where the latch contacted around the strike plate hole. Put a strip of masking or painter’s tape on the strike plate, then close the door. To test where contact is occurring, apply lipstick or a similar marking material to the door latch. Test to determine where the misalignment is happening.īefore trying to correct the problem, it’s important to know whether the latch is missing above or below the strike plate hole. Where the latch hits can reveal whether the issue is caused by loose hinges, misaligned hinges, a narrow strike plate hole, or a misaligned strike plate hole. Determining the cause involves checking where the latch is hitting on the strike plate or door frame. There are a few easy ways to help figure out the cause of the problem, and many causes are fairly easy to fix.